October 23

John xii. — 20. And there were certain Greeks among them, that came up to worship at the feast.

21. The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus. 22. Philip cometh and telleth Andrew; and, again, Andrew and Philip tell Jesus. 23. And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come that the Son of man should be glorified. 24. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground, and die, it abideth alone; but, if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. 25. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. 26. If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honor. 27. Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour; but for this cause came I unto this hour. 28. Father, glorify thy name. Then came there

a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.

29. The people, therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered. Others said, An angel spake to him. 30. Jesus answered and said, This voice came, not because of me, but for your sakes. 31. Now is the judgment of this world; now shall the prince of this world be cast out. 32. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. 33. (This he said, signifying what death he should die.) 34. The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth forever; and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of man? 35. Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you; for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. 36. While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.

These "Greeks" were Gentiles who had embraced Judaism, and were known as proselytes of the gate: hence their desire to see Jesus represents the longing of the Gentile world after light and salvation, in contrast with the unbelief of the Jewish leaders. Jesus took occasion from their coming to proclaim the universality of his redemption, that all men should be drawn to him through his cross. The fact that the Gentiles were seeking him, that the world was already longing for the Deliverer whom the Jews were rejecting, was another indication that the hour of his triumph was at hand. But this triumph must be reached by yet further humiliation, this glory attained through suffering. Death is the unfolding

of the germ for a new life, the expanding of the seed into the fruitful blade. Yet the soul of Jesus, overshadowed with the gloom of his last conflict, struggled with mortal anguish, and anticipated the cry of the garden, "If it be possible, let this cup pass from me." But, having come to this hour for the very purpose of making his soul an offering for sin, he would not shrink from the will of the Father. His Father answered by an approval audible to the bystanders; and Jesus rose to the majesty of victory over the Prince of this world: sin, Satan, death, should all be vanquished through the suffering of the Son of man upon the cross.

APPROPRIATE ITEMS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 116, 164, 171.

O Thou who art the Way! we beseech thee to lead us; O Thou who art the Truth! we beseech thee to teach us; O Thou who art the Life! we beseech thee to preserve us unto the life everlasting. We thank thee, O God! that in Christ we may know thee as our Father, reconciling us unto thyself.

Transform us from day to day, and from week to week, more into the image of thy Son, that we may at last be presented faultless before the presence of thy glory with exceeding joy.

We praise thee for this sabbath and all its blessings, at home and in thy house. We pray for all who have worshipped with us this day. May grace, mercy, and peace be upon them, and upon the whole Israel of God! Extend thy cause and kingdom everywhere. May the glorious gospel of the blessed God speedily triumph over all the pride and wisdom and will-worship and delusion of man!

O Thou who didst bring from the dead the Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant! do thou make us perfect to do thy will, working in us that which is well pleasing in thy sight.

May our friends who are at a distance from us be protected and guarded by thy gracious providence! Teach us how to walk as pilgrims and strangers on the earth, — sojourners, as all our fathers were, — looking for that blessed hope, even the glorious appearing of the great God our Saviour. Oh! bring us at last to our Father's house in everlasting peace.

As the curtains of the night are now drawing around us, be pleased to grant us thy guardian care. Lying down in thy fear, may we awake in thy favor, fitted for all the calls and duties of a new day! And all this we ask for Christ's sake. Amen.